Operations

Pilot program to recycle Taco Bell hot sauce packets

Provided

September 9, 2021

Taco Bell is launching a nationwide pilot program with TerraCycle to divert as many used sauce packets as possible away from landfills and give them new life, following an initial trial earlier this year.

The partnership reflects the start of a potential industry-wide solution for recycling sauce packets and other single-use food packaging, according to a press release.

The single-use packets are made of a flexible film material, leading to 8.2 billion used packets in landfills annually. TerraCycle is an international recycling company that collects traditionally non-recyclable items, cleans them, the melts and remolds them into hard plastic that can be used to make recycled products.

"As simple as it sounds, it's important to remember to first reduce our consumption habits, then reuse products wherever possible, and then recycle," Missy Schaaphok, Taco Bell director of global nutrition and sustainability, said in the release. "We're excited that TerraCycle has provided a way for us to extend the life cycle of our iconic sauce packets as we reevaluate the rest of our packaging suite."

Taco Bell customers can send in used packets in cardboard boxes using a free shipping label via UPS.

"Since our founding, TerraCycle has made it our mission to 'eliminate the idea of waste' and provide solutions for items that are not traditionally recyclable curbside," Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle, said in the release. "This unique recycling program not only highlights the forward-thinking nature of Taco Bell, but also marks a huge step forward for the quick service industry on its journey towards more sustainable business practices."